Are you having a high temperature and want to know “how to break a fever”? If yes, then this guide is specifically for you. The good news is you don’t need to worry about it. Fevers are very common and are not themselves an illness. Instead, they are the symptoms of an underlying infection or disease that your body is currently fighting. In other words, a fever is a sign that something odd is going on in your body. This is usually due to a virus like a cold or flu.
Fevers caused by cold viruses often last for 3-4 days. However, a high-grade fever can feel quite uncomfortable. If you’re having a fever and want relief naturally, here are some tips to help you understand how to reduce a fever at home.
Best Ways to Break a Fever
1 Give it some time and rest
Remember, fever itself is not an illness; it’s a symptom of one. Fever usually occurs when your body is naturally fighting a disease. Your natural defense system (antibodies) can actually kill or shorten an illness with its quick and powerful response. So, make sure you stay in bed and rest. Your fever will likely break on its own once your body is done fighting an underlying infection.
2 Drink plenty of water
When your body is hot, it naturally sweats to cool you down. But when you lose too much water – in case of a high fever – your body blocks its sweat ducts to avoid further water loss. This makes it more difficult for your body to cope up with the fever. As a result, your fever may last longer or even become worse. So, it is vital to stay hydrated. You can also have diluted fruit or vegetable juice. But make sure it contains one part juice to one part water. This will allow your body to absorb it and prevent diarrhea. This way, you will feel much better while your fever goes away.
3 Stay comfortably cool
We find no conclusive evidence that layering on blankets and forcing yourself to sweat has any benefit (unless you have the chills). Instead, you can stay cool to feel better while your body fights fever naturally. One way to break your fever is to take a cool or lukewarm shower (preferably at a temperature comfortable to you). You will also feel better with a cool compress to the forehead, armpits, and neck. But then again, this home remedy won’t break or treat your fever and the underlying illness on its own. But it can help comfort you by reducing your fever as your body fights off a bug naturally.
4 Take a fever reducer medicine to break a fever
If you’re feeling very uncomfortable and want to bring down your fever fast, take an over-the-counter pain reliever or fever-reducing medicines. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and Acetaminophen (Tylenol) are the go-to medicines for reducing fever in adults and children. Aspirin is also effective for adults. However, children or teenagers should never have aspirin to break fever since it can cause medical complications to young patients. It is advisable to recheck from your doctor before you take any medicine.
When to get a doctor’s help when breaking a fever?
When to see a doctor because of fever is generally determined by your age. Infants and toddlers should be seen by a doctor if their fever is 100.4 F/38 C or above. For adults, call your doctor if your fever is over 102 F/39 C. Moreover, you should seek immediate medical attention if you experience the following symptoms:
- Severe headache
- Stiff neck
- Skin rash
- Severe coughing
- Unexplained bleeding or bruising
- Persistent diarrhea
Now that you know how to break a fever, there’s still one thing you should know. That is: who to reach out when your fever is not going away. If your fever becomes worse or your fever is not reducing even after 2-3 days, let us know. At the Internal Medicine Diagnostic Centre, we provide our patients with the comfort and convenience of in-house procedures and lab draws across Houston and Magnolia, Texas. Call your primary care professionals at 281-252-8600 to receive affordable, first-rate medical services.